RED

High-end camera company RED has announced the next generation of its modular system, the Dragon sensor upgrade for EPIC and Scarlet cameras, complete with the superlative specs we're used to from the firm. Dragon will be offered as a $6,000 upgrade for the EPIC, with 6K resolution and 15+ stops native Dynamic Range. It'll also record 120fps Full 5K video footage.

RED looks set to show off its much-rumored 4K laser projector in its first public demo, with the camera company's RED Studios Hollywood running a demo reel on the new kit for a military-themed "RED Ops Night." Described as an event "to educate and expose the most cutting edge Red technology to military personnel involved in all areas of media and public relations" the show takes place in Los Angeles tonight.

The long talked about RED Scarlet camera, which has been under development for the past two and half years, has finally gone on sale and shipped to its first customer. Cinematographer Tonaci Tran is now the first person to receive the RED Scarlet camera at a price of $9,750. Amazingly, this is actually considered the least expensive camera of its kind.

I have flown more than one remote controlled flying what not including helicopters and airplanes. The thing they have all had in common was a very short first flight followed by a horrendous crash rendering a chance of a second flight moot. I can only imagine the carnage and repair bill I would wrap up if I had the chance to fly this drone that a German effects firm made for one of those crazy expensive Red Epic cameras.

RED is best known for its super-high-resolution cameras, capable of making both eyes and wallets weep, but the company has revealed it now has a home 4K projector in the pipeline. Arch teasemeister (and RED CEO) Jim Jannard took to the company's forums to share the glowing first-impressions from Element Technica co-founder Stephen Pizzo experience with RED's new laser projector, subsequently confirming that "this [projector] is on our roadmap."

The RED Scarlet is still a prototype even though it was originally announced about two and a half years ago. To dedicated RED fans that is probably no big deal when they are looking forward to a camera with HDRx functionality. After all, this is a camera that can capture video at 3072 x 1620 RAW resolutions. The long awaited sample video released today was at 120 fps, and yes, every frame at that same screen splitting resolution.

RED cameras have offered a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the safe return of the stolen RED EPIC camera and the arrest and conviction of those responsible for its theft. The reward offer follows news at the tail-end of 2010 that the very first RED EPIC to reach a customer's hands had been stolen while he was on holiday.

To be an early adopter is one thing, but to be the first person to own something as extravagant as the RED EPIC camera, well that's something completely different. And it obviously puts you on the radar of a lot of people. And some of those people may not have the best of intentions. For OffHollywood studio head Mark Pederson, who was the first person to own a RED EPIC, that lesson came the hard way, when he learned that his French chalet had been broken into, and cash wasn't the only thing taken.

Tell most would-be customers that you're adding $1,000 to the price tag of whatever it is they're waiting for, and you'd prompt a revolution; that just goes to show how unusual - and unusually dedicated - high-end camera manufacturer RED's customers are, since they've not only accepted a $1k increase on the upcoming RED Scarlet, but welcomed it. The extra money is in return for HDRx functionality, something the company has been talking about since mid-September only in relation to the more expensive RED EPIC.

High-end camera manufacturer RED has begun taking general orders for its updated RED One model, using the company's newest Mysterium-X sensor. Previously available as an upgrade for existing RED One owners, the new version of the camera is priced at $25,000 and offers full 4k resolution video recording together with boosted low-light performance.